SOUTHCOM reports casualties in Pacific operation
One person was killed in a new US airstrike targeting a speedboat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, while two survivors were left in the water, according to a statement by the US military.
The announcement was made by the United States Southern Command (United States Southern Command), which said the strike took place as part of an ongoing campaign against drug trafficking networks in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Military statement and unclear rescue outcome
The command said a “male narco-terrorist” was killed in the operation and that two survivors were left at sea. It added that the US Coast Guard was immediately notified to initiate search and rescue procedures.
However, SOUTHCOM did not clarify whether the two survivors were actually rescued, and the accompanying declassified video did not show any individuals in the water.
Rising death toll in controversial campaign
Airstrikes of this type have been conducted since September 2025 as part of a US-led campaign against drug cartels transporting narcotics to the American market. The reported death toll has now reached at least 193 people, based on compiled US military announcements.
The administration of Donald Trump has not publicly presented evidence that the targeted vessels were involved in illegal activity.
Legal concerns and investigations
The legality of the strikes, carried out in international or foreign waters, has been widely questioned by legal experts and United Nations officials, who have described them as potential extrajudicial killings.
According to US media reports, the Pentagon’s internal oversight body is expected to investigate whether the strikes comply with military targeting procedures and legal standards.
NBC News reported that the review will examine adherence to the US armed forces’ six-phase targeting cycle, which includes target identification, intelligence analysis, approval, execution and post-strike assessment.
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